Learn About the History of Audiology Awareness Month
Center For Hearing • October 14, 2022
Right now, audiologists are celebrating Audiology Awareness Month and encouraging you to take the initiative to care for your hearing health. In honor of Audiology Awareness Month, we’re reviewing its history and how you can celebrate below.
History of Audiology Awareness Month
Audiology Awareness Month was established by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) back in 2008. The purpose of this month is to create public awareness of noise-induced hearing loss, how to prevent it and other ways to care for your hearing health. AAA hopes that observing Audiology Awareness Month will help eradicate cases of preventable hearing loss.
AAA is the world’s largest professional organization of, by and for audiologists, and they serve as the collective voice of audiology. They are committed to advancing the science, practice and accessibility of hearing and balance health care for all patients. Their mission is to provide quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research and increased public awareness of hearing and balance disorders. Audiology Awareness Month helps them fulfill this mission.
How You Can Celebrate Audiology Awareness Month
Below are some ways you can celebrate Audiology Awareness Month and care for your hearing health:
- Follow the 60/60 rule. This rule applies when listening to music or other media through headphones or earbuds. It states you should listen at no more than 60% of the device’s maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
- Wear hearing protection. If you work in a noisy occupation, like at construction sites, or if you enjoy noisy hobbies, like attending concerts at The London Club, be sure to always wear hearing protection. You can purchase disposable foam earplugs from stores or online, or order custom hearing protection from Center For Hearing for maximum comfort and protection.
- Get a hearing test. It’s important to identify hearing loss early so that it’s easiest to treat. In addition, getting treatment can help prevent conditions such as social withdrawal, feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and even dementia.
- Invest in hearing aids. If a hearing test reveals you have hearing loss, make the investment in hearing aids. They’ll improve your communication, strengthen your relationships and increase your overall quality of life.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Center For Hearing today.
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Hearing technology has come a long way over the years; however, one aspect of hearing loss that many hearing aids have difficulty addressing is trouble understanding speech in noise. Fortunately, some of today’s state-of-the-art devices can solve this problem utilizing deep neural networks (DNN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Sensorineural hearing loss causes difficulty understanding speech in background noise. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical energy, which are then interpreted by the brain. This causes the quality and quantity of the signal sent from the ears to the brain to diminish over time, resulting in the brain expending more energy and effort to make sense of it. DNNs may help improve the transmission of the neural code, making hearing easier on the brain. [1] It’s important to know what DNNs are to understand how they can help. DNNs are a subset of AI. They rapidly analyze large data sets so that they can teach hearing aids and other technological devices how to respond to data like a human would, all while verifying accuracy and making corrections. DNNs are beneficial in hearing technology because they can help with speech enhancement. DNNs can be applied as “time-frequency masks,” meaning select sounds—like speech—are allowed while other sounds are suppressed. DNNs can also identify and separate multiple voices, selecting a primary voice to emphasize and secondary voices to suppress. This feature can help hearing device wearers in a variety of settings. For example, at a restaurant or party, the hearing device can emphasize a conversation partner, allow other nearby voices at a reduced volume and suppress background noises such as dishes clinking. Schedule an appointment to talk to Center for Hearing about our vast state-of-the-art hearing solutions today— (239) 434-0086. [1] Published by Douglas L. Beck. (2021, January 15). Deep neural networks in hearing devices. Retrieved April 2, 2021 from https://www.hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/deep-neural-networks
A Boston biotech startup is attempting to develop the first gene therapy treatment for hearing loss. If successful, it promises to offer new hope to the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer from gene-based hearing loss—a number that includes more than 4,000 newborns. The timing may not be ideal, but biotech companies have been largely immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. Developing new drugs takes years, so these companies are better able to weather storms. And the efforts of biotechnology companies that are focusing on tools to prevent and treat potentially fatal health threats has resulted in soaring stock values for many of these companies, even in the face of the current crisis. Akouos, the Boston startup, was founded in 2016. Its goal is to develop the first gene therapy to treat hearing loss and is targeting a specific form of deafness that results from mutations in a single gene. They are experimenting with adeno-associated viruses, using them as vectors to deliver DNA that encodes a functioning gene in certain target cells. Around 7,000 people are afflicted with this type of genetic hearing loss. Adeno-associated viruses are considered viable candidates because they don’t usually cause disease and can be customized to treat a variety of genetic conditions. The company has partnered with two influential organizations: Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, a Swiss manufacturing company that holds contracts with various pharmaceutical makers. Manny Simons, Akouos’ co-founder and chief executive, holds a degree in neuroscience from Harvard College, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His desire to help those with hearing loss stems from his passion for playing the piano. “It’s easy to take hearing for granted,” said in a Boston Globe interview. “Maybe because music has been important to me, it’s something that I take a little less for granted.” [1] [1] Saltzman, J. (2020, June 22). Akouos, a startup developing a gene therapy for hearing loss, raises IPO value to $125 million - The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/business/ipo-upped-akouos-boston-startup-working-gene-therapy-hearing-loss/
